Björn Skifs

Björn Skifs
Skifs at Stockholm Pride, 2010
Background information
Birth name	Björn Nils Olof Skifs
Born	20 April 1947 Vansbro, Dalarna, Sweden
Genres	pop, rock, schlager
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, actor, screenwriter
Associated acts	Slam Creepers’, Blue Swede
Website	www.Skifs.se

Björn Nils Olof Skifs (born 20 April 1947 in Vansbro, Dalarna) is a Swedish singer, songwriter, actor, and screenwriter.^[1][2][3][4]

Björn Skifs formed his first musical group Slam Creepers in 1962. Slam Creepers split in 1969 and Skifs went on to form a new band, Blåblus, in 1972. As Blue Swede, the band had a #1 hit on Billboard Hot 100 in 1974 with a cover of "Hooked on a Feeling". Björn Skifs left the band in 1976 to pursue a solo career. He recorded the duet "Med varann" with Anni-Frid Lyngstad for his 1975 album Schiffz.

Skifs appeared as The Arbiter on the original studio album for Chess, released in 1984. A single and video, "The Arbiter's Song" was released in 1985. Skifs also recorded several demos for the album, including "One Night in Bangkok", later performed by Murray Head. Skifs did not perform the role on stage; in the original London production the character was played by Tom Jobe.

Povel Ramel gave Skifs the Karamelodiktstipendiet stipend in 1984.

Björn Skifs represented Sweden twice in the Eurovision Song Contest, both in the 1978 contest and in the 1981 contest. In 2000 he hosted Melodifestivalen, the Swedish heat of the Eurovision Song Contest.

In 2002 he had a major hit with the song "Håll Mitt Hjärta" (Hold My Heart) which is a Swedish version of André de Lang's song "Same Ol' Story". It stayed on Svensktoppen between 27 April 2003 and 8 January 2006 for a total of 142 weeks.

Discography

Albums

• 1969 – From both sides now
• 1970 – Every bit of my life
• 1971 – Opopoppa (English: "Up'n Pop")
• 1972 – Blåblus (English: Blue Blues)
• 1973 – Pinewood rally
• 1974 – Out of the blue
• 1975 – Schiffz (No real significance, title is playing with his surename, "Skifs")
• 1977 – Watch out!
• 1979 – Split vision
• 1980 – Zkiffz (No real significance, title is playing with his surename, "Skifs")
• 1981 – SPÖK! (No real significance, title is playing with the word "Ghost")
• 1981 – Björns ballader
• 1983 – If...Then...
• 1984 – Paris – Dakar – Köpenhamn (English: Paris – Dakar – Copenhagen)
• 1984 – Chess
• 1985 – Vild honung (English: Wild Honey)
• 1987 – Zick Zack
• 2001 – Back on track
• 2002 – Ingen annan (English: Nobody Else)
• 2005 – Decennier...Sånger från en annan tid (English: Decades...Songs from a different Time)
• 2006 – Andra decennier (English: Other Decades)
• 2007 – Eye to Eye
• 2010 – Da Capo
• 2011 – Break the Spell

EP/Singles

• 1973 - "Sally var en reko brud"
• 1973 - "Hooked on a Feeling"
• 1973 - "Never My Love"
• 1973 - "Silly Milly"
• 1975 - "Michaelangelo"
• 1976 - "Firefly"
• 1977 - "Lady"
• 1977 - "Tarantula"
• 1978 - "Det blir alltid värre framåt natten"
• 1978 - "Rococo rendez-vous"
• 1981 - "Fångad i en dröm"
• 1985 - "Vild och vacker"
• 1991 - "Om igen"
• 2010 - "When You Tell the World You're Mine" with Agnes Carlsson
• 2011 - "Break the Spell"
• 2012 - "Step Right Up"

Collections

• 1972 – Björns ballader
• 1978 – Björns bästa
• 1989 – Collection
• 1990 – Björn Skifs
• 1991 – Songs for you
• 1997 – Björn Skifs 50/50
• 2004 – Skifs Hits!

Filmography

• Drömkåken (1993) aka The Dream House
• Joker (1991)
• Strul (1988) aka Framed
• Smugglarkungen (1985) aka King of Smugglers
• Chess Moves
• Privatdeckarna: Uppdrag Gran Canaria (1984)
• Prima Veras saga om Olav den hellige (1983)
• En flicka på halsen (1982) aka Saddled with a Girl
• Sverige åt svenskarna (1980) aka Battle of Sweden, aka Sweden for the Swedes, aka The Drinking Man's War
• Toy Story (Swedish voice of Woody)
• Toy Story 2 (Swedish voice of Woody)

References

1. Aftonbladet.se
2. Billboard
3. Billboard
4. CBS

External links

Media related to Björn Skifs at Wikimedia Commons

• Björn Skifs Official site
• Björn Skifs